St John the Baptist Catholic School is fortunate to employ a Family Liaison Officer whose role is to provide services to link families in need with other support agencies within the Catholic sector and the broader community. Working in conjunction with the School Counselor and Student Liaison Officer, the Family Liaison Officer provides support to all families in need of assistance.
Our Family Liaison Officer (FLO), Naomi Sirio, is available at the school to provide understanding and help ease some of the demands and challenges that face many families in our school community. Quite often parents will talk with the FLO about issues such as:
Our FLO can also provide families with information and referral to many community support services including organisations such as Centacare, Gosford Family Support, Uniting Care Burnside, Umina PCYC, Peninsula Women’s Health Centre and The Beachside Family Cottage, Umina.
All of these organisations provide valuable services, which include:
In addition our FLO also helps to co-ordinate the ‘Learning Assistance Program’ (LAP), which enables some of our students to work with community volunteers in a mentoring program. Parent education workshops are also organised by our FLO in conjunction with the parent education team from the Catholic Schools Office, and include the facilitation of programs such as:·
123 Magic
This provides strategies that promote positive behaviour in children.
Parent Factor
Supports parents in the learning that takes place in the home, and provides parents with ideas for helping their children with homework.
Ages and Stages
Is a new program that was launched in 2008 with much success. It looks at the different social and emotional stages our children go through, and the information provided in the group gives parents some strategies and understanding around their child’s current developmental stage.
We also have a Parent library available at St. John the Baptist that includes a variety of different books and DVD’s for families to borrow. Some titles include books about parenting, sibling rivalry, ADHD, toddler taming, coping with school and children’s health and are located in the schools library.
Availability
Naomi Sirio is available at the school one day a week (usually Tuesdays). No appointments are necessary. Just call into the office or contact her via telephone. Anything discussed with our FLO is always treated with the utmost confidence and respect.